Nepotism allegations erupts over Vidhan Sabha appointments, BJP demands probe
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Shimla, Feb 5,
Allegations of nepotism in the Vidhan Sabha recruitment process have sparked a political controversy, with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) accusing the ruling Congress government of favoritism and irregularities. The issue was raised by MLA Randhir Sharma from Shri Naina Devi, who claimed that the government manipulated job appointments in the assembly secretariat to benefit individuals linked to political leaders.
Sharma alleged that on January 31, the Vidhan Sabha Secretariat issued two notifications appointing 14 individuals to various positions. According to BJP, these appointments were distributed disproportionately, with five recruitments in the Chief Minister’s constituency, Hamirpur, another five in the Vidhan Sabha Speaker’s constituency, Chamba, and the remaining in the Vidhan Sabha Deputy Speaker’s constituency and Sirmaur. The opposition claims that these selections were arbitrary and favored individuals with political connections over deserving candidates. It was further alleged that jobs were awarded to personal associates of political figures, including relatives of drivers and social media managers, bypassing merit-based selection. Sharma questioned whether reservation policies and merit-based criteria were genuinely followed in the process.
BJP has demanded an immediate cancellation of these appointments and a fresh recruitment process based on transparency and merit. The opposition argues that the Chief Minister’s promise of providing five lakh government jobs through a fair selection process has been compromised by favoritism. They insist on a thorough investigation to determine if recruitment norms were violated.
In response, a spokesperson from the Vidhan Sabha Secretariat refuted the allegations, asserting that the recruitment process was conducted fairly and in adherence to established rules. They emphasized that all appointments were made through a transparent selection process, based on merit and eligibility criteria. According to the Secretariat, all necessary procedures, including advertisements, applications, and selection committees, were followed. They accused the BJP of making baseless allegations for political mileage and attempting to disrupt governance.
The controversy has intensified political tensions in the state, with BJP demanding a judicial probe while the Congress government continues to defend its actions. As the opposition presses for action and accountability, the debate over transparency in government recruitments remains at the forefront. Whether the government agrees to an independent inquiry or stands by its defence of the appointments remains to be seen, but the issue has once again brought concerns over nepotism and political influence in job recruitments into public discourse.
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